Lamp socket support



INVENTOR- J FIGUEIRA LAMP SOCKET SUPPORT "Filed March 29, 1953 Feb. 5, 1935.

Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES.

ham LAIMP SOCKET SUPPORT Joseph Figueira, New York, N. Y., assignor to Leviton Manufacturing Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 29, 1933, Serial No. 663,287

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a support for a lamp socket by means of which the lamp socket can be attached to a canopy or other support in a very convenient manner without the necessity of extensive or cumbersome parts. In carrying out the invention the lamp socket of standard form may have the cap thereof removed and the shell is securely supported in such a manner that the switch mechanism is kept firmly in place and the parts are not disturbed when lamps are screwed in and taken out or the switch mechanism is operated.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the device showing a portion of the canopy in section; Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 in a plan view of the device.

In the drawing reference character 1 indicates a standard shell of a lamp socket having switch mechanism 2 therein and supported thereby. The projecting portion of the switch mechanism 2, which is made of insulating material, is illustrated as being provided with a rim or flange 3 that rests upon the upper edge of the shell 1 when the usual cap is removed, but other switch mechanisms for lamp sockets having horns for pull chains may be used. The horn 4 for the pull chain 5 is indicated extending outwardly through one side of the shell 1.

The socket may be attached to supports of different sorts by this invention, although the invention is especially useful for attaching the socket to a canopy. A portion of the canopy 6 is illustrated in the drawing having an internal annular flange 7 upon which the socket may be supported.

The support for the socket comprises a metal ring 10 which is preferably in the shape of a washer having a hole therethrough large enough to permit the lower reduced portion of the shell 1 to pass through the hole until the shoulder 11 of the shell rests upon the ring. Screws 12 pass through holes in the flange '7 and the ring 10 to hold the ring 10 in secure and firm engagement with the flange '7.

The ring 10 is providedwith a plurality of downwardly extending spring arms 13 whose lower ends rest against the upper side of a bead 14 on the shell 1. The length of the respective arms 13 is such that when their ends snap into place above the bead 14 on the shell 1 the ring 10 is pressed securely against the shoulder 11 of the shell so that the ring 10 is maintained firmly and securely on the shell without danger of the shell becoming loose in the ring. Instead of using the bead 14 the screw threads that are usually provided on the shell 1 may be used so that the ends of the arms 13 press against the uppermost one of these threads to keep the ring 10 securely in place. The hole through the ring 10 is of sufiicient diameter to permit the bead 14 or the threads on the shell 1 to pass.

The ring 10 is provided on its upper side with a spring arm 15 whose upper end extends circumferentially to form a hook 16 that extends over the horn 4. The hook 15 extends radially, as indicated at 17, so that its ends 18 bear against the edges of the slot 19 that is usually provided in socket shells for the switch horn or the switch operating mechanism.

The operation is as follows:

The shell 1 with the switch mechanism therein is inserted into the ring 10 until the shoulder 11 thereof bears against the ring and the ends of the spring arms 13 snap behind the upper side of the bead 14 on the shell 1. The shell is then turned until the horn 4 passes under the hook 16 of the arm 15 and the extension 17 on the hook l6 snaps into the slot 19.

The ring 10 may be screwed to the canopy or support 6 by means of the screws 12 either before or after the shell and socket are put in place. The canopy may be supported upon a support in the well known way and other supports for the ring 10 may be used.

The shell 1 and switch mechanism 2 can be removed by pressing the upper end of the arm 15 outwardly a sufficient distance to withdraw the extension 17 from the slot 19 whereupon the shell 1 can be turned. The lower ends of the arms 13 can then be pressed outwardly and the shell and switch mechanism withdrawn from the ring 10.

I claim:

1. In a lamp socket, a shell having a shoulder and a projection spaced from said shoulder thereon, a ring lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of said shell and bearing against said shoulder and having extensions contacting with said projection.

2. In a lamp socket, a shell having a shoulder and a projection spaced from said shoulder thereon, a ring lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of said shell and bearing against said shoulder and having spring arms with their ends bearing against said projection.

3. In a lamp socket, a shell having a shoulder and a slot adapted to provide entrance for a switch operating member into a shell, 2. disc-shaped ring bearing against said shoulder and a spring exbeyond the outer surface of said shell, a ring bearing against said shoulder, an arm on, said ring having a portion extending over said projeetion and into said slot.

s. In a lamp socket, a shell having a. she-Finder, 7

switch mechanism in said shell, a pfrojection'from said switch mechanism extending beyond the outer; surface of said shell, a ring bearing against said shoulder, and an arm on said ring having a portion extending over said projection and a, portion projecting into the inside of the side of said 10 ,shell.

JOSEPH FIGUEIRA. 

